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Larva Migrans Cutanea

definition

Cutaneous eruption due to the presence of moving parasites in the skin. Larvae of several hookworms may be responsible. They penetrate the skin where it has been in contact with contaminated soil or beach sand, and burrow slowly through the dermis leaving an elevated erythematous wandering track that may become vesicular and is intensely pruritic. This thread-like line forms bizarre, serpentine patterns. Migration occurs at a rate of several millimetres to a few centimetres a day. The disease is self-limiting.